asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will indicate the list of products which could be manufactured in this country so as to reduce our dependence on imports; and if he will further state the efforts of the various State agencies in import substitution.
Written Answers. - Import Substitution.
538.
The IDA, in co-operation with the Central Statistics Office, have produced a set of "Import Highlights" covering different sectors of industry. These figures relate to products which are being imported into the country on a large scale. They do not, by themselves, prove that an opportunity exists for import substitution. Rather they identify items that are worthy of closer investigation by people with expertise in the relevant sectors.
Recently, the IDA also produced a supermarket study entitled "Consumer Foods — Ideas for Development" which identifies new consumer food products with potential for production in Ireland. This study, together with the latest available "Import Highlights", may be inspected by interested parties in the IDA's regional offices around the country and in the IDA's Walk-In Information Centre at Mount Street, Dublin, 2.
Real import substitution will only take place, however, when Irish goods and services can realistically compete with imported products in terms of price, quality, reliability, etc. The extensive services and expertise of State agencies are available to assist Irish industry in this regard. The Deputy will be aware that as a member of the European Communities, Ireland is generally precluded from restricting the import of materials produced in other member states.